Dracut Seniors Learn Real-Life Financial Literacy Skills

Recently, Dracut High School Seniors had the opportunity to participate in a Credit for Life Fair. This was a unique chance for Seniors to experience real-life financial circumstances in a controlled environment. In advance of the fair, students were asked to choose an occupation. The day of the fair, they were directed to travel to over 15 booths, each specializing in different real life circumstances such as credit and lending, housing, and transportation. Additionally, students had to navigate through unexpected, unanticipated life events that they are likely to encounter in the future (such as such as the birth of children, or job promotions). Each booth presented students with choices to be made in regards to their personal finances based on their given salaries; all while facing real-life expenses and dilemmas.

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As a Junior, it was enlightening to see the Seniors going through each step and evaluating their financial situations. I was able to talk with Senior, Julia Demopolulos who said, “I am a little bit nervous about how this will turn out for me. This is a career that I have been planning on for my future. This fair has helped me see how to plan better for when it comes time to make these decisions for real.” In the end, some students were able to maintain good credit while others, who had to learn the “hard way” were glad that this was just a mock situation.

The Credit for Life Fair was made possible through a competitive grant awarded to Dracut High School through the efforts of, Mr. Charles Mone, who is also the leader of the DHS DECA Club. A special thanks to Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union who provided materials and over sixty employees who manned various booths; the Dracut Rotary, along with Mr. Taber and Mrs. McHugh. Dracut was one of only nineteen high schools able to put this fair on, giving the class on 2016, a memorable opportunity. Kudos to Mr. Mone for providing the Senior Class with such an enlightening experience